Thirds to phelp f



. (No Model.)

J. E. WHEELOCK. WIRE STRETGHER.

Patented Apr. 6, 1897.-

a? if; 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. \VHEELOCK, OF COLLINSVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF TVVO- TIIIRDS TO PHELP F. SMITH AND CHARLES A. HART, OF SAME PLACE.

WlRE-STR'ETCHER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 580,242, datedApril 6, 1897.

Application filed May 8, 1896. Serial No. 590,695. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN E. WHEnLooK, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Collinsville, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vire-Stretchers, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side view. Fig. 2 is an edge view.

The object of the improvement is denoted by its title, it being a device in the nature of a stretcher for putting up wire fences and the like.

In the accompanyingdrawings, the letter a denotes the main lever, and b the pinchinglever pivotally attached to the side of the main lever. The main lever on that side of the pivot c opposite from the handle end is provided with the inwardly-curved surface a, which may well be termed a post-grasp, because it is intended to grasp and encircle the post to a degree to slip on the post and move around it. rotarily for the purpose of affording a long pull upon the wire and at the same time keeping a sure grasp upon the post. The main lever to is also provided with a reversely-curved pinching-surface a located upon a shoulder formed thereon, and the pinching-lever Z) is provided with a corresponding reversely-curved pinchingsur face I). These cooperating and reverselycurved pinching-surfaces afforda grasp upon the wire, which is absolutely sure under'any possible strain, and the pressure is so exerted upon the wire thereby that the surfaceis not practically abraded nor the ordinary galvanized coating thereof disturbed.

The pivot c, which connects the two levers, is located at one side of an imaginary line drawn through the central part of the two pinching-surfaces, and this eccentric location of that pivot is necessary in order to allow them to close with the proper pinching motion.

The handle ends of the two levers a and b are practically flush, so that the operator can grasp and use both levers at one and the same time. Indeed in an emergency he can oper- 5o ate both by the pressure of a leg or some other part of the body and leave his hands free, as is sometimes very desirable for other purposes.

It is of course possible to make the parts so far described wholly of metal, but it is preferred that, as shown in the drawings, both the levers be mainly of wood and that the postgrasp and the two reversely-curved pinching-surfaces be of metal suitably attached thereto.

The letter a not only denotes the inwardly-cu rved surface already referred to, but also a metallic surfacing-strap therefor, which is prolonged in strap a protecting the end of lever 61.

The letter cl denotes a hook for drawing staples and the like, inserted in the end of lever a, and through the strap 0 The straps a a and the hook d not only have their separate functions, but they mutually cooperate to hold each other in position.

I claim as my improvement In combination, the two levers, the postgrasp, the two reversely-curved pinching-surfaces, and the pivot of the levers located off the center line of the two pinching-surfaces, all substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

JOHN E. WHEELOCK.

Witnesses:

W. E. SIMoNDs, ANDREW FERGUSON. 

